That this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will be a completely different event than its previous iterations has been well known for some time. Today an initial list of companies set to take part in the downsized event was announced. Among the 32 companies are the three platform holders and all major third party publishers, with the sole notable absentee being Tecmo. Whether the Ninja Gaiden makers and other companies will join the group of 32 exhibitors at a later date is unknown, though. The following companies have signed up for the mid-July event:

1C Company
Activision
Akella
Atari
Atlus
Disney Interactive Studios
Capcom
Codemasters
Crave Entertainment
Eidos
Electronic Arts
Konami
LucasArts
Majesco
Microsoft
Midway
Namco Bandai Games
NCsoft
Nintendo
Sega
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Square Enix
Take-Two Interactive
THQ
Ubisoft
Vivendi Games
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Foundation 9 Entertainment
id Software
Logitech
Nyko Technologies

This year's edition of E3 will take place in Santa Monica, California from July 11th through 13th.

• GamesIndustry.biz